DSN announces management changes to position for future growth

NEW YORK — Lebhar-Friedman, Inc. a B2B media and information company, and publisher of Drug Store News, Chain Store Age, Hardware + Building Supply Dealer and Retailing Today, has announced that Wayne Bennett has been promoted to group publisher. In his new role, Bennett will be responsible for the strategic leadership of Drug Store News and will also lead the newly formed DSN – Consumer Health Care group, which includes the digital media brand HellaWella and a soon-to-be-announced consumer health engagement platform.

In addition, Eric Savitch has been promoted to publisher of Drug Store News and will take over the day-to-day management of Drug Store News and the strategic direction of the group’s pharmacist training and education platform.

“We are positioning our company for future growth to serve the needs of the growing consumer health care consumer by leveraging the assets, relationships and brand equity we have within the industry and the internal capabilities of Lebhar-Friedman,” said John Kenlon, president of Lebhar-Friedman, Inc.

“I am excited to lead this strategic initiative for our company and to work passionately to serve the retail health care industry with a new and cutting-edge platform,” said Bennett. “Knowing that Savitch will be managing Drug Store News, we are well positioned for future growth.”

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam’s Club has made some expansive personnel and strategy changes focused on merchandising on the same day that Walmart announced job cuts at its home office in Bentonville, Ark.

In a memo sent to Sam’s Club employees on Friday, Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer said the company “has been conducting an in-depth analysis of its business to map out a winning path for the future of Sam’s Club.”

The four key elements to the new strategy include:

Grow with higher household-income members and four high-value business segments.

Drive relevant merchandise and deliver better value for our members.

Acquire and retain the right members in the club and increase their spend.

Transform the club experience with digital.

In her note, Brewer also said Sam’s Club jobs were among those announced by Walmart.

“Our strategy work has coincided with the company’s initiative to improve overhead efficiency, creating a simpler, more effective workplace. Sam’s Club will be reducing layers of management, impacting a small number of associates. These are difficult decisions, and we know the impact this can have on associates and their families. These are our fellow associates and friends, and we will ensure they are treated well,” Brewer said.

Brewer says the implementation of the new strategy at Sam’s Club involves at least nine personnel moves, including:

Seong Ohm is moving from SVP, Merchandise Business Services to SVP, Merchandise Solutions

Todd Matherly is moving from SVP, Merchandise Solutions to SVP, Business Member Merchandising

MiKaela Wardlaw Lemmon will change in reporting from Merchandising to Membership

Alex Aguila will change in reporting from Merchandising to Membership

The company has also created a new position of Vice President, Divisional Merchandise Manager of Meat, which it expects to fill soon.

Brewer said moving forward, Sam’s Club will target four primary categories of savings members:

Large families – with children from ages 6 to 18 years

Neighbor families – those who live within two to three miles of a Sam’s Club and treat our clubs almost like a grocery store

New Moms – who spend heavily on diapers, wipes, baby food, and have the potential to become very loyal members

Social couples – both empty nesters and millennials who like to entertain

The company also expects to develop a broader, integrated private label strategy that will sit above the category level.

“We intend to build fewer, much stronger private label brands

We will continue to concentrate on our business members, but with renewed vigor and focus,” Brewer said. “As part of our analysis, we identified four high-value business member segments we consider our addressable market moving forward:

Meijer names pharmacist to top spot

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer last week named Rick Keyes as president of the company. Keyes, who joined Meijer 26 years ago as a pharmacist in Columbus, Ohio, takes the reigns of the multi-state Midwestern retailer after last week’s announcement that J.K. Symancyk is leaving the company to join a Texas-based retailer.

“We are pleased to introduce Rick as our new president,” said Hank Meijer, co-chairman and co-CEO. “Rick’s proven leadership has been an inspiration to our team. He has grown up with Meijer, excelling in positions in both pharmacy and store operations, and, most recently, building industry-leading supply chain and manufacturing operations.”

Keyes, 46, had been EVP supply chain and manufacturing since 2006. In that capacity he oversaw the retailer’s expansion into manufacturing with the acquisition of one dairy and construction of another, and pioneered initiatives ranging from the launch of a near-zero emission truck fleet to significant investments in lean distribution technologies.

“I am truly humbled and honored to accept the role as president of Meijer,” Keyes said. “I joined this company as a front-line team member more than 25 years ago, and Meijer has provided me the opportunity to learn, grow and develop experiences across a variety of disciplines. I’m very much looking forward to working with our team members at all levels to ensure Meijer continues to grow and thrive.”

While Keyes’ imprint on the increased sophistication of Meijer supply chain and manufacturing operations is dramatic, he is also known as a strong advocate for team members, including a passion for increasing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Since 2012, Keyes has led an initiative at several Meijer distribution facilities to create job opportunities for persons with various levels of disability, partnering with several local non-profit agencies.

“A company can only be great if its team members feel valued and engaged, regardless of their role or level,” Keyes said. “Together with a strong senior leadership team, I’m looking forward to charting a course for our company where everyone can feel ownership for our success, while delivering the excellent customer service Meijer is known for.”

Keyes will be the 7th president in the company’s 81-year history. He is a native of Columbus, Ohio and a graduate of Ohio Northern University’s College of Pharmacy.

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Grocery retailer and wholesaler Supervalu has shared the results from its fiscal 2018 third-quarter, which included a boon to its wholesale business in the form of its Unified Grocers acquisition, even as retail sales declined. The Minneapolis-based company’s total continuing operations saw net sales of $3.94 billion — up 31% from $3 billion in the same period last year.

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